(Last Updated on February 1, 2016 by Editor)
ZIMBABWE – Jack Burnham struck his second century in three matches as England breezed into the ICC Under-19 World Cup quarter-finals courtesy of a 129-run victory over Zimbabwe in Chittagong yesterday. The Durham batsman followed up his brutal 137-ball 148 in the thrashing of Fiji on Wednesday last week with another high-quality innings from number three, hitting an unbeaten 106 from 104 balls.
Openers Max Holden and Dan Lawrence also contributed fifties while a late cameo from Sam Curran lifted England to 288 for four after Brad Taylor won the toss.
Saqib Mahmood claimed his second successive four-wicket haul and Callum Taylor snared three scalps to help dismiss Zimbabwe, despite 91 from Jeremy Ives, for 159 in the 44th over.
Lawrence and Holden made good on Brad Taylor’s decision to make first use, sharing a 91-run opening stand.
Lawrence added 59 to his scores of 174 and 55 in the first two matches to become the tournament’s leading run-scorer, only to be knocked off top spot by Burnham.
He struck five fours and half-a-dozen maximums during his run-a-ball ton and contributed to half-century stands with Holden, who made 51, the recalled Aneurin Donald and Curran.
Curran gave the innings impetus by hitting five fours in a 16-ball 32, helping add 108 in the final 10 overs, and then carried the momentum into his bowling by having Akshay Patel caught at mid-off in the fourth over.
Mahmood then took a wicket either side of lunch, becoming the tournament’s leading wicket-taker in the process, to leave Zimbabwe’s chase in tatters at 14 for three.
Ives and Shaun Snyder offered brief resistance with a 35-run partnership, but after Ben Green removed the latter Callum Taylor took centre stage.
The right-arm seamer bowled with good pace to take 3-14 from four overs, including taking two wickets in as many balls, the first of which arrived courtesy of a brilliant diving catch at short cover from Brad Taylor.
He could not become the first England Under-19 international since Luke Wright in 2003 to take a hat-trick, though, delivering a leg-side wide.
Callum Taylor bowled Wesley Madhevere and, despite a battling 52-run eighth-wicket alliance between Ives and Brandon Mavuta, Mahmood and Mason Crane wrapped up the tail.
Mahmood denied Ives, who was trying his best alongside last man Rugare Mugarira, a ton by bowling him to return figures of 4-39 from 9.4 overs.
Meanwhile, defending champions South Africa crashed out of the tournament following a defeat to Namibia. – ECB